Youth Environment Team make an impact

Youth Environment Team make an impact

A group of keen secondary school students is appalled at the amount of rubbish that is dumped or drifts up at Waitangi estuary, Awatoto beside the mouth of the Ngaruroro River.

The Youth Environment Council team and their secondary school friends spent two hours collecting 580 kgs of rubbish at Waitangi on Saturday 5 September.

They collected a wide range of rubbish including household items such as a toaster, computer keyboard, TV remote, and less savoury items such as nappies and animal carcasses.

“The students were shocked and disappointed with what they found. They felt that people look at the beautiful sparkling sea in the distance but up close the beach and parking area is a disgrace, and that adults should be taking more care,” said Sally Chandler, HBRC’s Community Engagement Coordinator.

“In March during SeaWeek, volunteers collected even more rubbish from the same area. Keep Napier Beautiful is coordinating a coastal clean-up this weekend, and are, unfortunately, guaranteed to find more rubbish,” adds Mrs Chandler.

Volunteers from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council and the Environment Centre assisted with last weekend’s beach clean-up. Items that could be recycled were taken by Environment Centre Manager Sarah O’Bryan, back to their recycling collection point in Hastings.

This was the first of two events being organised by the Youth Environment Council for September. On Wednesday 23 September an Environment Expo will take place at Taradale High School from12.30pm, with all secondary schools in Napier and Hastings already formally invited to attend.

“The Youth Environment Council students are excited as around 60 of their peers have registered for this event, and there is room for a few more,” adds Sally Chandler.

Students can get further information by emailing enviro@hbrc.govt.nz.

ENDS

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